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The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi Advises On Irrational Use Of Antibiotics |
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The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD), today announced its objective to reduce antibiotic consumption by 25 per cent in two most prevalent infectious disease conditions in the next 2 years. Steps taken to achieve this objective include the establishment of the Abu Dhabi based local chapter of the Alliance for a Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA), a non-profit organization charged with encouraging the rational, efficient and safe use of antibiotics through the provision of scientific advice, guidance and technical supervision. APUA chapter is the first chapter of this foundation in the gulf region and the second in the Middle East. Dr. Mohammed Abu El-Khair, Section Head of Drug and Medical Products Regulations at HAAD, who chaired the founding meeting of APUA Chapter said: "APUA will achieve its objectives by making recommendations on best practice interventions to be implemented both across the UAE to address the issue of microbial resistance to antibiotics. These interventions will include the issuance of regulatory policies, awareness campaigns, workshops and educational activities professionals." Khalid Fulad, Director of Health System Compliance, at HAAD spoke on the vital role of HAAD pharmacy audit teams in reducing this problem through unannounced visits to pharmacies, as well as "Placebo shopper visits", a program launched in 2008 to monitor pharmacies that sell antibiotics and other drugs such as hormones and drugs without a prescription. "During 2009, 441 unannounced pharmacy audits took place. Any of these pharmacies found to be non-compliant faced appropriate disciplinary actions taken according to the situation. These audits have a great impact in reducing the problem of irrational use of antibiotics. Actively implementing HAAD polices and standards serves to strengthen the role of the pharmacist in providing advice and guidance to patients on side effects that may result from the unnecessary use of antibiotics’’, he added. The APUA UAE Chapter first meeting was held at HAAD and attended by representatives of various stakeholders from academic and health institutions as well as representatives from various departments at HAAD.
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